East Carolina University
Old Dominion
Gratz' Late Goal Lifts ECU, 3-2
September 03, 2010 | Soccer
Sept. 3, 2010
NORFOLK, Va. - Chrissy Gratz netted her second game-winning goal of the season with less than two minutes to play, lifting East Carolina to a 3-2 win over Old Dominion Friday night at the ODU Soccer Stadium. With the win, the Pirates extended their current winning streak against the Monarch to three games.
Minutes after the Monarchs (1-1-1) tied that game at two on Victoria Johnson goal, Gratz made a move to the center of the field and took a shot from 15 yards out that the ODU goalkeeper couldn't come up with to give ECU a one-shot lead at the 88:36 mark.
ODU drew first blood in the 26th minute when Rachael Carroll sent a free kick into the box that Kirsten Walker headed past ECU (2-2) keeper Christiane Cordero.
The score remained 1-0 until the 49th minute when Tricia Tufts sent a ball into the box off ECU's first corner kick of the match, where Amanda Broz headed it in for her first goal of the season.
Amanda Malkiewicz received a through pass from Gratz in the 76th minute giving the Pirates a 2-1 advantage. Gratz set up the goal by dribbling up the left side and sending a through pass to Malkiewicz for her second goal of the season.
ODU kept fighting back, and broke through in the 86th minute on Johnson's first goal of the year. Carroll sent in a corner kick from the right side that Johnson headed past Cordero. It was Carroll's second assist of the night and third of the season.
"I'm really happy with how resilient our girls were tonight," said Head Coach Rob Donnenwirth. "After being down at the half, I thought we came out and played our best half of the season. Now we just have to put a full 90 minutes together.
"ODU is a very tough and athletic team that caused us problems all night, but our defense stepped up and played really well. I thought Stephanie Shaw was out best defensive player on the night and had a great game at left back."
The Monarchs outshot ECU 15-9 and held an 8-1 advantage on corner kicks.
Cordero, who has started all four games in goal, made two saves while Brianna Alvarado logged one for ODU.
ECU will be back in action on Monday, Sept. 6 when they host Niagara at the North Campus Recreation Complex at noon.
Post-Game Notes:
